(steam locomotive puffs)
(train whistle)
- (man) Hm. What are you reading? - Hm?
The Overcoat, by Gogol.
- Gogol? - Uh-huh.
Never heard of him.
Syllabus?
No.
(in Bengali) Just reading. My grandfather has given me the book.
- Seen much of this world? - l went to Delhi once.
Every year l visit my grandfather in Jamshedpur.
No, no, no, no, no. Not this world.
l mean England, America.
l was in England for two years.
lt was like a dream.
Sparkling clean streets.
Nobody spitting on the road.
- Have you ever thought of going abroad? - No.
You should. You are young. You are free.
(in Bengali) l'll tell you one thing, you must go out and conquer the world.
You will never regret it.
My grandfather always says that is what books are for -
to travel without moving an inch.
To each his own.
(shouting and screaming)
(woman singing)
(crowd chant in Bengali)
(door opens)
- (in Bengali) Didi, why are you so late? - Hey, Rini.
(in Bengali) Go, get ready quickly. Someone is waiting for you. Go.
(in Bengali) Learn, Rini.
(in Bengali) She loves to cook. She knits very well.
(in Bengali) She knitted a cardigan in just a week.
(in Bengali) And kids are crazy about her.
(in Bengali) She's been learning classical music since childhood.
(in Bengali) Here she is.
- (in Bengali) lt's OK. - lt's OK.
Uh...
My son has been living abroad for the last two years.
He's in New York. He's doing his PhD in the field of fibre optics.
- Hm? - Hm!
Our daughter's best subject is English.
(in Bengali) Ashima, recite something for us.
''l wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once l saw a crowd...''
''A host, of golden daffodils''
This was my father's favourite poem.
He used to read a lot, my father. Oh!
(in Bengali) You sit. Sit, please.
My child, have you ever flown in a plane?
Will you be able to go halfway across the world,
live in a cold city with freezing winters?
(in Bengali) Leave your house, far from your parents?
(in Bengali) You won't get tired, will you?
- (in Bengali) He'll be with me, won't he? - (man) Huh?
(in Bengali) You're starting a new life.
(in Bengali) Take it to your heart.
(in Bengali) But don't forget us.
(in Bengali) lt's a new life full ofjoy and happiness.
- (in Bengali) Let me see. Let me see. - No, no, no.
(wedding ceremony in Sanskrit)
(dripping)
(in Bengali) Where are you?
lt is a freezing winter day outside.
Bread. Milk.
Apple. Teem.
The rest we'll buy from the lndian shop after l come home.
- (in Bengali) You're going out? - (in Bengali) Yes. Three weeks are up.
(in Bengali) Now, l have to go.
How are you feeling?
lt will take you several days to recover. After all, you've just flown...
halfway around the world.
(in Bengali) You go and rest. l'll bring you some tea.
(in Bengali) Go.
lt is the American way.
(in Bengali) Go. Go, go. Take a rest.
- (in Bengali) l don't want to. - OK.
(in Bengali) Then sit down. Sit.
(in Bengali) Here, we have 24-hour gas. See.
(in Bengali) You just turn this and...
gas.
Hot and cold water, too. (in Bengali) There are two taps.
Red one and blue one. Don't confuse between the two, you would get burned.
And you can drink water straight from the tap, no need to boil it.
The washing machine is just down the street. l will show you when l come home.
Now...
Once you are settled, l will take you to my department
and introduce you to my professor here.
You won't believe it.
(in Bengali) ln comparison to the professors here, even our street vendors dress well.
Just a minute.
No, no, no, no, no!
(Ashima) l am very happy, and everything here is wonderful.
The plane journey was long but enjoyable,
and l am feeling fine.
How is Rini?
The house is very nice - big, with lots of windows.
Do you know, over here we get gas all day and all night?
These have all shrunk. l mean, who asked you to wash my clothes?
(in Bengali) Couldn't you have waited? Here, one dollar means eight rupees.
We don't have so much money to buy...
Where are you going?
Ashima?
Open the door, Ashima.
l'm sorry, Ashima.
(in Bengali) lt was my mistake.
Your intention was good but it was my mistake not to tell you. Please, open the door.
(in Bengali) My Ashima. My Ashima, dear Ashima. Open the door, Ashima.
(in Bengali) Open the door.
Please?
Hey, baba.
(in Bengali) Crazy girl.
(in Bengali) You won't smile? Huh?
(in Bengali) No smile? No smile.
(in Bengali) One, two... No smile. No smile.
l'm sorry.
Take one or three train, from here all the way to...
Fulton Street.
You get out of the station, ask anybody:
(in Bengali) ''Where's the Fulton fish market?''
(in Bengali) Uh, and if l get lost?
(in Bengali) Why are you scared? Will l let you get lost?
(cries out)
Uh...
(in Bengali) What's happening? Hm?
(in Bengali) Come.
(in Bengali) Come close to me.
(Ashima sings quietly)
(singing continues)
- Do you have a longer frock? - What's that?
l mean to here.
And hide those gorgeous legs?
Here we go, let's get you under the covers so you needn't worry.
Time those contractions.
(boy) Rana? Hey, Rana! (whistles)
(in Bengali) Everything's OK. l checked.
(in Bengali) Eyes are black like jamuns.
(in Bengali) Black like hair.
(in Bengali) How are you? Everything was OK?
Being rescued was the first miracle of my life.
You are the second.
Mrs Ganguli? l'm Mr Wilcox.
You have a name for the baby?
One minute. My husband is coming.
- (in Bengali) He wants the baby's name. - Yes, the name.
We are waiting for my wife's grandmother to choose.
Will she be here soon?
She is in lndia. She is more than 85 years old.
But there is no hurry. Some of my cousins were not named until they were six years old.
Until then they were called by their dak names.
- Dak names? - (Ashoke) Pet names.
We all have two names - one pet name, dak name, one good name, bhalo name.
ln this country, a baby can't be released from the hospital without a birth certificate
and a birth certificate requires a name.
How about... Baby Boy Ganguli?
Baby Boy?
Till the letter arrives. Afterward, we can change it?
ls that what we should do?
l wouldn't - endless red tape. Expensive, too.
Sleep on it.
Baby Boy Ganguli?
- (baby gurgles) - Gogol...
Gogolu?
What do you say?
We could call him Gogol.
Till the letter arrives. Later we could change it on the birth certificate.
We would not be here but for Gogol's blessings.
Hold still, hold still.
Don't move.
One, two, three.
Say ''cheese''.
(in Bengali) Look, look. Gogol. Uncle!
(in Bengali) Uncle, uncle, uncle.
- (in Bengali) lt's just come? - (in Bengali) Yes.
- (in Bengali) Here he is. - (in Bengali) Oh, my, he's so sweet.
(in Bengali) Look, look. Ashima's baby, Gogol.
(Ashima, in Bengali) l want to go home.
(in Bengali) l don't want to bring up Gogol alone over here.
Think of Gogol's future.
This is the land of opportunity, Ashima.
He can become whatever he wants, study whatever he desires.
You know, options are limitless.
Don't you want to give him that?
Huh?
- Here you go. - Thanks.
You're welcome.
Come on.
Leave it, leave it. Leave it. Come, come.
(Ashima hums lullaby)
Don't go so far that l cannot see you. He's too little.
(Ashima hums lullaby)
(man) Welcome to suburbia, Ashokda. You have a beautiful house. Congratulations.
(Ashoke) Everything is from a yard sale.
Ashima does not like it but l say, ''What is wrong with it?''
Even my chairman, who lives in a huge mansion,
wears a trouser bought for fifty cents.
That is America, Ashoke.
Hey, kids, catch it.
(Ashima) Gogol?
Where are you?
Hey, Googly.
(in Bengali) Poor child.
He's probably feeling very left out because of his sister Sonia's naming ceremony.
- ls he going to be called Gogol in school? - No. We have decided on a good name.
(woman) Finally. What is it?
Nikhil.
The all encompassing one.
Of course, they will it turn it into Nick.
Gogol?
Hey, Gogol.
(in Bengali) He's here.
Missing your sister's ceremony, huh?
l found him.
(Gogol) l don't like the baby.
- Sonia, eat this. - Now will be the grand finale.
Ashima, what will your baby girl's future be?
(in Bengali) We will see her future now.
- (woman) She wants everything. - Ask her to pick up the pen.
Hey, Sonia, pick up the pen.
- A female Tagore. - Put the dollar in her hand.
Pick up something, Sonu.
(man) American girl must be rich.
She's not picking anything.
So, how did you like your first day in big school?
- Great. - Oh.
And what is this?
''Due to your son's preference, he will be known as Gogol in school.''
''Mrs Lapidas, Principal.''
Hm.
And what about your parents' preference?
Hm?
(Ashima) ln this country, the children decide.
He wants to keep Gogol and not Nikhil as his good name.
Fine. No big deal.
With a president named Jimmy, there's nothing we can do.
As long as our kid is happy.
(phone rings)
So late?
(phone rings)
Hello. Hello?
(man) Hello, Ashokda?
(in Bengali) Ashokda, can you hear me?
(in Bengali) There's bad news, Ashokda.
(in Bengali) What?
(in Bengali) l cannot give this news to Didi.
Don't worry, l will.
(Ashima) He told you something you're not telling me.
Yesterday evening your father was playing patience on his bed.
He died of a heart attack.
Ah!
(in Bengali) What? What?
Baba!
(Ashima weeping)
(in Bengali) Calm, Ashima.
(in Bengali) He didn't suffer much.
- Come on. - Look, baba. Gogol.
- (in Bengali) Where? - G-o-g-o-l.
(Ashoke) Very good. Very good.
Come on, we'll miss the plane. Come on, come on.
- (in Bengali) Come. - (in Bengali) l don't want to go.
(in Bengali) l don't want to see them like that.
(in Bengali) That won't do.
(in Bengali) Think of your mother, think of your brother.
(in Bengali) You have to be strong for all of them.
(in Bengali) Let's go.
Not your ordinary guy, Nikolai Gogol.
- Hey, Gogol, it's your namesake. - (laughter)
Today he is respected as one of Russia's most brilliant writers,
but in his own lifetime he was understood by no one, least of all himself.
One might say that he was an eccentric genius.
- Yo, Gargle, way to go. - Shut up.
Mr Hanson, Mr Epstein, l will see you both after class. Thank you. Out.
Come on. Out.
Thank you, gentlemen.
Now, Gogol was reputed to be a hypochondriac.
He was deeply paranoid, frustrated, friendless.
He never married and he fathered no children.
Towards the end of his life, he proceeded to commit slow suicide by starvation.
- (class groans) - (girl) Eww!
Did you guys know about him when you named me?
That he was paranoid, suicidal, friendless, depressed?
You forgot to mention that he was also a genius.
How could you guys name me after someone so strange?
(in Bengali) Don't talk to your father like that.
And don't call us ''guys''.
Sometimes when l listen to you both, l feel l have given birth to strangers.
Just because you're graduating does not mean you can behave like this, Gogol.
(Gogol) So l'm two inches away from her.
Her luscious lips part.
Just as l'm about to kiss her,
she looks at me and she says:
''What's your name?''
''Gogol Ganguli.''
- End of Seduction 101. - Plain Jane loves your name.
- ''Gogol, Gogol, l love you.'' - ''Gogol!''
Don't Bogart thatjoint.
You know, of all the freaking Russian writers in the universe...
why did they have to choose the weirdest?
What the hell's wrong with Leo or Anton?
Shit! l just want to sit 'em down and be like:
''Man, Gogol is your favourite author, not mine.''
- Shit! - What?
l got that thing. Oh, shit.
- Hey, where you going? - (Gogol) See ya!
Goodbye, Air lndia.
(Gogol) Whoo-hoo!
(door closes)
- l'm sorry. - They have been here for two hours already.
Come.
- This is our son, Gogol. - Sorry, l'm late.
Hey, Gogol. Mr and Mrs Mazumdar, they've have just moved in to New York from London.
Wow. That's far.
- Hey, Gogol. - Hey, Mira Masi.
l'll show you something.
And this is our daughter, Moushumi.
- Both the same age also. - Oh.
- They'll have a lot in common. - l'm sure.
Hi.
Hello.
- What are you reading? - Bonjour Tristesse.
ln French.
Wanna go watch some TV?
Tch! l detest American television.
Gogol, baba. Come and sit next to your Mira Masi.
Come. Come.
Why are your eyes so red?
(tuts)
- Someone's envy has definitely got to you. - l'm fine.
(in Bengali) Ashima, get me some chillies.
(in Bengali) Nikhi, let me see. Give, quickly.
Oh, Mira Masi. l promise you there are no evil eyes in the United States of America.
That is what you think.
You be careful where you're going. What is the name?
Yale.
There will be plenty of girls in this Yale place who will want to trap you.
Have as much fun as you want but...
(both) ..marry a Bengali.
(* ""Once"" by Pearl Jam)
* l admit it
* What"s to say?
* Yeah
* l"ll relive it
* Without pain
Gogol!
Hey, baba.
- How are you feeling now? - l'm feeling a lot better. Thank you.
Good.
Listen.
l have never given you any presents apart from what your mother buys,
but for your graduation, l have something special.
* Oh, try and mimic
* What"s insane
Thanks, baba.
l ordered this just for you from the bookstore. Took four months to arrive.
* l got a back-street lover on the passenger street
* l got my hand in my pocket, so determined, discreet
* l pray
* Once upon a time
* l can control myself
* Ooh, once upon a time...
l hope you like it.
Very nice.
Thanks, baba.
Thanks again.
(turns music off)
You know, l feel a special kinship with Gogol. More than with any other writer.
- Do you know why? - Yes.
Gogol's your favourite author. l know, baba.
No, apart from that.
He spent most of his adult life outside his homeland.
- Like me. - Right.
But...
there...
there is another reason.
Hello?
Hm?
What's the other reason?
(chuckles)
No other reason.
(groans)
OK, good night.
Good night, baba.
We all came out of Gogol's Overcoat.
One day you will understand.
(man on PA) Your attention, please.
lndian Airlines announces the departure of their flight lC408 to Calcutta.
(woman) On behalf of lndian Airlines and Captain Dasgupta,
we hope you enjoy your flight.
(woman) Flight lC408.
(man in Bengali) Ah! They've come.
(chatting in Bengali)
Take out the luggage.
- Gogol. - Hi, Dadima.
(in Bengali) That's all. And for our Rini...
Here. Earphones.
(in Bengali) Quickly, bring two pairs of chappals from Bata.
(in Bengali) Get them only from Bata.
(in Bengali) Tea for you.
(man sings)
lt's an umbrella.
(Ashoke) Open it, see.
Ah!
Whole New York in Calcutta.
- What's wrong with you? - l want to go home.
Oh-ho!
l have something that'll cheer you up.
Here. The planner says that there are only 89 days left to go.
(moans)
What is wrong with you? Are you hot? Have some ancient air conditioning.
Go away!
(in Bengali) Give me one kilo of tomatoes. Give me the good ones.
(in Bengali) See, that one there is not good.
You are going out?
- Jogging. - Jogging?
- Running, on the street. l'm in training. - Training?
Yep.
Don't worry, Dadima. l'm not gonna go far.
(in Bengali) Oh, my God. Chotu. Chotu.
(in Bengali) Coming.
(in Bengali) Go with him. He's on the road. Stay close to him.
(in Bengali) l know, l know. l'm going.
Oh, good morning. Gogol!
(in Bengali) Gogol, babu! Move, move. Gogol!
(in Bengali) Gogol, babu! l'm a fat man.
Stop. Stop.
Stop.
(in Bengali) Your grandmother told me to go with you.
Babu follow Chotu. No... Chotu follow Babu.
- They sent you to follow me? - (in Bengali) Yes.
(in Bengali) My heart's beating fast.
Heart?
- Chotu die. - Don't die. Want to go back?
(Chotu mumbles agreement in Bengali)
(Chotu sings in Bengali)
There is something l always wanted to ask you but never had the courage.
All those years ago, why did you say yes to me?
You were the best of the lot.
Huh?
Better than the widower with four children,
and the cartoonist with one arm.
l also liked your shoes.
Oh, OK, OK.
You want me to say, ''l love you''?
Like the Americans?
(in Bengali) Yes.
Stop sulking. You look really great in that outfit. lt suits you.
Shut up.
Why don't you get in, my American sahib? Sonia can sit on my lap.
No. Because being pulled by another human being is feudal,
and l don't want to be part of something like that because...
Ma, stop. lt's embarrassing me.
Who can guess where we're going tomorrow?
- Another relative's house? - No.
- The Botanical Gardens for the 100th time. - To Agra. To see the Taj Mahal.
- Are you serious? You're not kidding? - Really?
- That's awesome, Ma. - Oh, my God!
(Ashima) lt's a wonder of the world.
- We should have taken a plane. - (in Bengali) Everything will be fine.
(in Bengali) What will be fine?
(in Bengali) Baba, how far?
lt's right here.
(in Bengali) Let's go, let's go.
l've always wanted to come here with you.
Just imagine how much Shah Jahan must have loved Mumtaz to make this for her.
Other husbands also love their wives, Ashima.
Only we cannot afford to build Taj Mahal.
Guess what.
- l think l'm gonna major in architecture. - What about engineering?
Come on, baba. Architecture has everything. lt's got engineering, drawing, aesthetics.
Our family Shah Jahan.
Look. ''Gangrene.''
What the...?
- Can you believe this? - l'll catch the racist punk who did that.
- Don't be upset. - Frigging welcome home.
Just some kids having fun.
So, l've been thinking a lot about my name.
''Gogol'' is fine on my high school diploma
but can you imagine ''Gogol'' on a r¨¦sum¨¦ or a credit card after that?
What are you trying to say?
l'd like to change my name back to my good name.
What is done is done. Now ''Gogol'' has become your good name.
lt's too complicated now. You're too old.
And, anyway, you have only yourself to blame.
lt's my fault because l was four years old?
That's right, Gogol.
Anything is possible in America.
Do as you wish.
An excellent choice, sir.
l'm home.
- Hi, Nick. - Hello.
Hi, Lydia. How're you doing?
- Good. Have you got it? - Yep.
(Lydia gasps)
Where's my girl? Where's my Master of Fine Arts?
- Congratulations. - Thank you, Daddy.
Thank you all so much for coming. This means so much to me.
Drink. Celebrate.
Beep beep. Excuse me. l'm sorry.
Cake.
- l still can't believe it's over. - Hey.
Hi.
- Nick... - Open it.
- Do you like it? - Yeah, it's beautiful.
(Lydia) Hello.
l want you to meet the young lndian architect who has so captured Maxine's heart.
This is Pam Burton, a dear college friend, and this is Nikhil Ganguli.
- How do you do? - Maxine, look who's here.
- lt's very nice to meet you. - You as well.
Now, how old were you when you moved to America?
l was actually born in New York.
l once had a girlfriend who went to lndia.
Came back thin as a rail.
- l'm sure. - l was horribly envious of her.
l think your parents want you to marry a nice lndian girl.
l don't care what they want.
This is what l want.
Sally gave them to me before anybody else could check them out, huh?
Ah! Reading Chekhov.
What perks l get from my wife, the librarian.
(car horn)
- (man) What are you, blind? - (man #2) Today, huh?
(car horn)
(Ashoke in Bengali) Drive fast.
You have to learn to drive faster.
- Don't talk to me. l will have an accident. - (car horn)
(Ashoke) lf you keep on driving like this, you will have an accident.
(Gogol) Everything's fine, Mom.
- Why are you calling me? - Hey, hon.
(Ashima) Because you"re not at your apartment.
You are never at your apartment, Gogol.
ln the middle of the night l have called and you are not there.
l am, Ma. l need my sleep. l turn off the phone.
- Gogol, are you there? - Yeah, yeah. l'm here. l'm here.
l want you to come home next Saturday.
Then you can come with us to the airport the next day.
Baba is going to teach in Ohio for six months. You remember?
l remember. But what's the big deal? He's only going to Cleveland.
- Sonia's not coming home. - Sonia lives in California, Gogol.
l can"t come home that weekend.
l'm going on a vacation with my girlfriend. Her parents have a place in Oyster Bay.
Mom?
(Ashima hangs up)
Mind if we go see my parents on the way to Oyster Bay?
- You mean l'd finally get to meet them? - Mm-hm.
l'd love to, baby.
Oh, that's too much.